Conveying apparatus



.I une 20, 1944. H c MATLOk l 29,351,990 f CONVEYING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 3,` 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ATTORN EY vJlune 20, 1944.

H. c. MArLocK CONVEYING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 5, 1942 v3 Sheets-Sheei'l 2 lJune 20, 1944. H. c. MA'rLocK CONVEYING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan.

INVENTOR )Kira/a7 C Patented June 20, 1944 Y um-TED STATES PAT-sm OFFICE;

i 2,351,990 CONVEYING APPARATUS Harold C.` Matlock, Bridgeport, Conn.,v assigner to United States Ruliber Company, :New York, 4 N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey o. t f .Application January 3, 1942, sefia1N0.425,53a I a claims. I (ol. 19e-,19)

i This invention relates to conveying apparatus vand' in particular it relatesgto an apparatus for 'removingfa'nnular articles from a moving conveyor, disposing the article at al treating station Awhere-it may be subjectedV toa'manufacturing operation and' finally removing the article from the treating station and depositing it upon la `moving hook-type conveyor.

" In the handling of annular objects such as pneumatictires, muchlabor has been saved by the' use of`conveyors which move the tire from one location tol another. YWhen it is necessary to remove the tires from the conveyorfor performing a manufacturing operation, it usually requires the services of an operator'to vremove the tires from a conveyor hook, place'the tirein a treating station and thereafter replace the tire. on the conveyor hook. This is a tedious operation and in some casesthe tires are relatively heavy which makes the taskburdensome to the operator. "'In accordancer with the practiceof my invention, I have found that, by a novel mechanical arrangement, ltires can be` efficiently' removed from* the'conveyor, operated upon at a treating station and'replaced on the conveyor entirely automatically. Thetreating station as described herein is incidental to the lmanipulation of the tire; for example; at this station. the-tire may be painted, washed',` trimmed, 'balanced or subjected to other manufacturing operations. 'In gthe'present invention, I describe an apparatus Iwhich includes painting of" the tire by a spraying `operation. However, itis to be understood that the inventio'n'is not to lbe limited toothis particu- Alartreatmentl o Among the objects of my invention are to provide an apparatus for automatically moving. objjects toa treating' station and'subsequentlymoving the .object'fro'rn theltre'ating station to a conveyor hook; "to remove the element of hard labor 4inlliftir'ig tires to and'fron'i a treating station; to provide accurate means 'for'depositing tires cna :moving'conveyor hook; Aan'dto provide such an apparatus which operates uniformly land efficiently in removing and replacing tires transversely -of la hook-type conveyor. These and other'objectsand advantages `will appear more fully in the following detailed description when considered inl connection with the accompanying drawings vin which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an apparatus embodying my invention; l l Fig. 2 is an end view thereof; o u Fig. 3 isa side elevational view of the apparatus; l v

Fig. 4" is a plan view,-partly in section, of the lower portion of the apparatus' taken along line IV-IV of Fig.v 3; f a

Fig. 5 is an end View, partly in section, of a portionv of the apparatus taken lalong line' V'-V of Fig. 4 illustrating a tire lifting arm mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a view, in section, taken along line VI-VI ofFig. 5 illustrating'the twopoint oscillation of the tire lifting arm;

Fig. 7 is a plan View thereof taken along line VII-VII of Fig. 6';

Fig. 8 is a detailview of' a braking device;

Fig. 9 is a front view of a conveyor type tire carrierv andy tripping device; and,

Fig'. 10 is a side elevationall view thereof take along line X-X of Fig. 9.

Referring to the drawings I show an embodiment of my invention in the form of an apparatus for treating tires, such as painting thetires, in combination with automatic conveying means for moving tires toA and from the treating station. InFigs. l, 2 and 3, I show in particular a tire-treating' station-including a structural frame I'I suitably adapted to support tire rotating rolls I2 and I3. The rolls I2 and I3 are' provided with concave corrugated tire engaging surfaces to facilitate rotation of a tire I4 and are centrally 'and 'sprocket 22 on the'gear reduction unit 2l Vengages a chain 23 which drives av sprocket 24 secured to one end ofthe shaft I5. Secured to the opposite end of the shaft I6 is another sprocket 25 (Fig 4) engaging a chain 26 which 'drives a sprocketZ'Ijmounted on the shaft I5; thus the rolls I2 and I3 are'continuo'usly driven throughout the operation of the machine.

In Fig. 3, I show the tire I4 supported on a conveyor at a position from which it is about to be transferred ,to the treating station. The `conveyor is of conventional type, comprising a driven chain`28, (Fig. 10) attached to which, at spaced intervals, are bifurcated members 29. Mounted in the members 29 are 'rollers 3| which travel along' the path of an overhead-'supported track member-32. Securely attached to the lower end of the `member 29 is an angular-shaped bracket 33k extending downwardly. The bracket 33 hasjpivoted at its lower end a' tire supporting hook lllfwhch is held in operative position by means of a vertical bar 35 engaging an extended portion 36 of the pivot arm forming part of the hook 34. The vertical bar 35 is free to slide within retaining clips 31 and 38 forming part of the brackets 33, and is limited in upward movement by the top end of the bar engaging a swinging bracket 39 which is pivoted to the bracket 33.

Means are provided along thepathof movement of the conveyon'forlreleasing'the'tires from the hook 34. Suitably located and straddling the track member 32 is a forked bracket 4|. of the downwardly extending legs of the bracket 4| have sloped projecting surfaces '42.'2forming ,F511

part thereof. The projecting surfaces 4,2.are pomovement of the swingirigbracket 39 causing a source of supply (not shown) and the connection 64 provides atomizer air, while the connection 63 connected to the line 6I provides air pressure necessary to operate the cylinder within the gun. This is conventional practice. The duration of the paint spray is controlled by the length of time the tire I4 is permitted to remain on the rollst I 2 and I3.y Immediately after the tire-*is removed.' from the rolls, a 'tenjsion spring 66 functions to return the Vcam 56'ou`t'of engagement with the switch 51 reversing the action of the solenoid Valve 58, thus stopping the spray.

The tire, is removed from the spraying position by meansof an arm 61 which swings into engagementwith' the tire, lifting it from the rollersl2 and lI3 and the arm swings back to dethe bracket to swing backward to the position indicated at 43. Due to the weight of the tire' the l vertical bar 35 is now free to slide upwardly,

which movement causes the tire supporting hook 34.to tilt downward toi-the .positionindicated at 44"thus depositing `the tire I-4 into a Vreceptive channel forming part of the machine. Subsequent tires carried on the conveyor are ,likewise deposited. in thefmachine -irr a continual operati011.,. jaif'..

The tire I4 is dropped from the conveyorhook 34 .ontoan arcuate chute-45,(Fig. 3) forming part of the; structural frame I.: 'A plurality of rollers 46 mounted on the -arcuate'chuteS facilitate movement ofthe tire, which rolls` by gravity onto the rotating rolls I2 and.|3. ,'Ifo .prevent the tire from rollingV too far, forward, and to retain the tire upright on the rolls .l2 `Vand I3 a sheave-shaped stop member 41A ismounted on an arm 48 secured to a shaft 49 which pivots in bearings 5I positioned enthe structural frame II. The counter weight mounted on the arm Y40 secured to one end of the shaft 49 partially counterbalances the sheave-shaped member-41. A stop pin 50 positioned to engage theV arm'40 limits the downward movement of the arm 48. Guide rails 52 on-either side of the tire assist in maintaining the tirein vertical position.

The tire is now located in the treating station where it maybe washed,Y painted or subjected to some other manufacturing operation. In the present example the tire is.` paintedby a spraying operation. The tire rotating rolls I2 and I3 as previously described are driven continuously secured to the end of the shaft is broughtinto engagement with an electric switch-'51 closing a circuit leading to the solenoid operated vlValve-58. The valve Y53 functions to` permit 'air pressure froml a supply line 59 to enter the line |5| thus starting the spray guns 62` in operation. .The paint spray guns 62 are of the conventional type and forthe purpose of illustration I have shown three such units positioned one orieach side of the tireto spray the sidewall portions,rand one directly in front of the tire to spray tlieltread surface. Itfis to lbe understood that. additional spray units maybe used. ,'Ifoveach of the spray guns V6,2,V lead three connections 63,-` 6-4. and-'65. .The"connection 65 carries paint tothegunlfrom posit the paint "sprayed tire upon the supporting hook'. 34/ suspended from the conveyor which is a continuation of that carrying the tires to the paint machine. The mechanism for removing they tire from the machine isV setjiin ymotion` by the .ac tin. auf, elegtriaswiich 68. 2), suit.- ably positioned on the trackmemberZ. ,A trip lever 69 -rnounted on the track member 32,519 cated for engagement with one of the rollersvf 3l|, at a predetermined point in the conveyor path, is .caused tocontact theswitch 68, closing the circuit leading to theJ solenoid valvell (Fig. 5) secured to the structural frame II. The action of the valve 1| permits fluid pressure from asupply line 12 to enter thecnduit 13 leadingrto Van air cylinder 14 attached. to-a'rslleeve 15,. The sleeve 15 is) supported in -bearings`16 and 11 and is f'reetoY 'oscillate therein. Rigidly secured to` one end of the'sleevef15. is a pivotblock 18 which has lateral slots 13 cut in both thetop and bottom sides, vthe slots-likewise ,extending through the wall portions of the sleeve 15. The pivot block 18 is adaptedto receive thefforked end of the arm 61 and is connected therewith by means of a pin 8| (Fig. 6) which permits an oscillatory movement of the arm 61. The piston'rod 82 (Fig. '5) of 'the' cylinder 14 extends I"tlir'oi'lgh thgopening inthe sleev`e15 and'is connectedv to the arm'l b-y a.crossspindle 83.- Rotatably mounted on lboth ends of the cross-spindle 83 are rollers 84` which enter 'elongated holes '85. (Fig. 167),' vlocated inboth sides of the forked portion off theV arm ,61.1 .Cover plates '86 are providedto retain. the rollers 84111"pl'acejY A An extension rod' 81 (Fig. 5) passesthroiigh a centralaperture in the cross-spindle v|33 and is in threadedv engagement 'with'. the pistdn'fro'd 82. The oppositeerid" of the extnsion'fi'df'l extends beyond the end of the sleeve15fandfa portion of the extension is threadedl for 'engag'- ment `with a 'nutl 88' whichfacts to' tighten a clamping sleeveV T);A againstv the cross-spindle .8.3, holding it rigidly' against the end lof 'the piston rod 82. V,Positioned onv theextremeendffthe extensionurcd 81 is a trip lever 9| (Fig. .2)'2 which operates .l a drive mechanism, hereinafter "de Vscribed. Av 'bracket 92,positionedl on tl'iefra'rne II functions as a guide for thetr-ip lever SI yThe action of the solenoid Vvalve .1| tFig. 5) causes the piston. 82 to moveforwardff-I'he cross-spindle '83 likewise travels forwardinthe slots 19, vand y'being-5connected `to the. arm=6 1, functions' to' swmgfitne arm vabout -tneipi r 11f8|l, causing it to assume a position as shown by; the 4datand qasnnne at en, (Fig-4). `As tneextension rod 81 (Figs. 5 and 2) is pushed forward the trip lever 9| engages anje lectric 1switch193 mounted on the braeket-92 which startsa'driving mechanism in operation. .fr

Means in the form of a driving mechanism is provided for swinging the arm 61 and moving the tire from the treating station to a position in alignment with a conveyor. The driving mechanism is located on the upper structure of the frame and includes a motor 94 (Fig. 1) and a gear reduction unit 95. Associated therewith is a sprocket 96 which drives sprocket 91 by means of a chain 98. The sprocket 91 is mounted'on the end of a shaft 99 supported in bearings |0I and |02 positioned on the frame Secured to the opposite end of the shaft 99 is a crank |03 to which is attached a connecting rod |04 engaging a corresponding crank fastened to the end of a shaft |06. In this manner rotary movement of the crank |03 imparts an oscillatory movement to the crank |05.

The shaft los is supported in bearingsY |o1- and |08 positioned on the frame I I. Mounted on the opposite end of the shaft |06 is a sprocket |09 which is connected by means of a chain to a sprocket ||2 secured to the sleeve 15 (Fig. 5).

The sprocket ||2 is adapted to permit a pivotal movement of the sleeve to the extent of approximately 180. to pivot, the arm 61 attached thereto swings into a position as shown by the dot and dash line at |I3 (Fig. 3). At this point a cam member I|4 (Fig. 1) secured to the `shaft 99 engages an electric switch |I5 positioned on the frame I which reverses the action of the solenoid valve 1| resulting in the arm 61 swinging on the pin 8| and moving in an axial direction to engage the rotating tire I4. Strictly speaking, the end of the arm 61 moves on an aro whose center is the As the sleeve 15 is caused veyor. A second cam 'member |23 (Fig. 1) secured to the shaft 99 engages an electric switch |24 positioned on the frame which stops the motor 94 momentarily, permitting the tire supporting hook 34 to enter the inner circumference of the tire.` The electric'switch .68 is again operated by the action of the roller 3| causing the arm 61 to swing outwardly depositing the tire upon the hook 34 and continuing through a similar cycle of operation for each succeeding tire.

As thus shown and described, it is believed apparent that I have provided a novel and efficient means for treating tires in a continuous and progressive manner by which tires arev positioned and removed from the treating station uniformly and automatically.

' While I have shown one form of the invention lit is'tobe understood that it is subject to obvious modifications which appear within the 'spirit of the invention and the scope `of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

.treating station, a support for suspending a pin 8|, but since this arc is tangent to a line parallel to the axis of the tire at approximately the point where the bracket or rod on the end of the arm 61 moves inside the ring of the tire, for all practical purposes the bracket on the end of the arm may be said to move substantially parallel to the axis, that it moves generally in an axial direction into the tire. II'he arm..

61 immediately starts its return movement and band ||9. A spring |2| positioned on the frame n provides the necessary tension to the brake band |I9. As the tire is carried forward, guide rails |22 prevent the tire from swinging on the arm 61 which places the tire directly in the path of the tire supporting hook 34 of the contreated article and for carrying it from the treating station and a transferring device for transferring saidarticle from the treating station to the support, said transfer device including a transfer support and means actuated in response to the movement of the first-named support for moving the transfer support Atransversely into the ring of said article and subsequently moving parallel to the principalplane of the article to transfer the article into the path of the firstnamed support.

2. A transfer mechanism comprising an arm, a support shaft, a pivot block secured to the shaft, a pivotal connection between the arm and the pivot block disposed laterally of the shaft, means for moving the arm about its pivot substantially longitudinally of the shaft and means for imparting turning movement to the shaft.

3. A transfer` mechanism comprising a shaft, an arm having a portion vextending about the shaft, ak bearing block carried by the shaft and extending laterally thereof, a pivotal connection between the block and the arm disposed laterally of the sha-ft, means disposed within the shaft and movable longitudinally thereof, means con-v shaft.

HARoLDo. MATLooK. 

